Thread cutter for pneumatic thread receivers for looms



Jan. 4, 1949. R. e. TURNER 2,457,956

THREAD CUTTER FOR PNEUMATIC THREAD RECEIVERS FOR LooMs Filed 001:. 25, 1947 FlG.l

INVENTOR RICHARD G. TURNER ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 4, 1 949 THREAD CUTTER FOR PNEUMATIC THREAD RECEIVERS FOR LOOMS Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,133

14 Claims. (Cl. 139-247) This invention relates to improvements in thread collectors of pneumatic thread control systerns for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in weft replenishing looms and itis the general object of the invention to provide the collector with means for cutting off excess length of the weft ends.

Weft replenishing looms ordinarily operate with reserve bobbins in a magazine from which weft ends extend. It is necessary to keep these weft ends taut and also provide for their removal as the bobbins are transferred one by one during successive replenishing operations of the loom. Heretofore I have proposed control means for tensioning and removing weft ends including a thread collector or accumulator into which Weft ends can be drawn pneumatically. After entering a thread holder associated with the collector the weft ends become entangled with each other to form a common mass of threads which serve as an anchorage to prevent the weft ends from being drawn out of the collector and back through the holder. with a door or the like aiiording manual access to the interior of the collector to permit theoperator to remove excess weft ends.

It is an important object of the present invention to facilitate removal of the weft ends from the collector by providing the latter with cutter means to sever the weft ends, thereby avoiding the previous necessity of manually breaking off the end of a bundle or mass of threads which was necessary in thread collectors as heretofore constructed.

It is occasionally necessary for the weaver to place his hand into the thread collector to straighten out or otherwise manipulate the weft ends entering the collector from the thread holder, and under these conditions it is desirable that he be protected from accidental cuttingby the cutter means. It is a further object of the present invention to mount the cutter so that it is normally unexposed and can be moved to exposed cutting position only at the weavers will.

The form of thread collector with which the invention is illustrated utilizes a vertical hollow cylinder having a thread holder on the top thereof and means in the bottom thereof through which subatmospheric pressures may be created within the cylinder. In a collector of this type the weft ends are drawn down not only by gravity but. also by pneumatic action, and it is a -further object of the invention to locate the thread cutter at one side of the bundle or group of weft ends which hang from the thread holder intermediate I have also provided the thread collector the latter and the means through which a partial vacuum is created within the receiver.

The cylindrical collector already mentioned has attached thereto a casing or the like which mounts a normally closed door which can be, opened for reasons already mentioned herein.

It is another object of the invention to locate the thread cutter adjacent to thedoor and in such position that it can sever weft ends after they have been drawn outwardly through the door.

Since it is desirable that the cutting operation shall leave some of the weft ends entangled with each other so that they can act as a thread anchorage it is still another object of the invention to locate the cutter at a substantial distance from the thread holder or point of entry of the weft ends into the collector.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a thread collector made according to my present invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, looking directly at the supporting casing for the door, the latter being removed,

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2, parts being in section and parts being removed to illustrate more clearly the means for moving the cutter blade to cutting position,

Fig. 4 is a view of the door supporting casing and cutter as seen from the interior of the thread collector and looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3, and r Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Referring particularlyto Fig. 1, the thread collector or receiver R comprises a preferably transparent thin cylinder C having a base in held to a head II by tie bolts one of which is shown at it. I I and receives the weft ends W leading from the reserve bobbins in a magazine not shown. These Weft ends are drawn pneumatically into the thread holder H and then downwardly into the cylinder C due to subatmospheric pressures created within the collected, through a porous tube l3 located in the bottom of the cylinder. Tube l3 communicates pneumatically with a hose I4 which may lead to any suitable source of subatmospheric pressures not shown, such as the reciprocating pumpswhich have already been pro- A thread holder H is supported by the head.

3 posed by me. The head I I may be supported on an arm [5 secured to and extending from the adjacent loomside not shown.

The cylinder has secured thereto a. casing I6 having an outer flange I! which is secured as at l8 to the cylinder. The casing has right and left side walls and 2| as viewed in Fig. 4, a topv 22, and a floor or bottom 23. The walls 20 and 2| are preferably inclined downwardly and away from the cylinder to engage a door D hinged as at 24 to the top of the casing 16. .The top, bot-. tom and side walls of the casing define a passageway 25 through which the weaver can inserthis hand into the cylinder C and upwardly toward the thread holder H if it should be necessary, to

straighten out or otherwise manipulate the weft ends W. The latter will ordinarily hang downwardly from the thread holder as a mass M of entangled threads.

The matter thus far described may be as already proposed by me and operates in the usual manner. Subatmospheric pressures within the cylinder C draw weft ends into the holder and downwardly opposite passageway 25 toward porous tube l3. As new bobbins are placed in the magazine their weft ends will be drawn into the holder and cylinder andwill generally be sulficiently long to reach at least to the top of the porous tube l3. As weaving continues the weft ends accumulate within the collector to a sufficient extent to require their occasional removal. In the past this has been done by lifting the door D and tearing the lower end of the threads away from their upper ends. This operation is not convenient nor does it always leave the mass M of suflicient length to serve as anchorage to prevent retrograde movement of the weft ends through the thread holder when their respective bobbins are picked immediately after transfer.

In carrying the present invention into effect I form. thecasing l6 with 'a horizontal flange or web which may in effect he a continuation of the top 22 and extend into the cylinder as suggested in Fig. 3. A cutter blade 3| above the web 30, has one end thereof pivoted to the latter as at 32 while the other end'thereof is connected as at 33 to a link 34. As indicated in Figs. 3 and 5 the link 34 extends backwardly, downwardly, and then forwardly through a guide lug 35.formed integrally with the casing in one ,of the upper corners of the passageway 25. forwardly beyond the guide lug 35 and is provided with a removable head or button 36. In order that the cutter blade may be held normally in the forward protected or unexposed position shown in Fig. 3 I surround the'link with a compression spring 3'! located between the guide lug 35 and the button 38. As shown more particularly in Fig. .3 the cutter blade is provided with a cutting edge 40 which is set forwardlypf the, rear edge 41 of web 30 by a sufiicient amount to prevent ac-' cidental engagement with the weavers wrist should his. hand be placed into the collector C.

Inthe normal operation of the collector and pneumatic system the knife will be in the guarded position shown in Fig. 3, but when it is desired to remove excess weft ends from the interior of. the collector. the door D will be raised and the weaver willgrasp the lower end of the mass .M dependingfrom the holder H while the thread cutter is in retracted or non-cutting position vHe .will then push the button-36 rearwardly to move the cuttingedge 40 to the exposed cutting position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,- ,andwhile holding the butter in this position'will move the weft The link extends .within the collector may disturb them to some extent the guard which is formed by the edge 4| of the web 30 as viewed in Fig. 3 will keep them out of contact with the cutting edge 40. The

latter willbe kept in non-cutting position at all times except when the weaver of his own will pushes button 36 rearwardly. There is therefore no opportunity for him to be cut accidentally, nor can the cutter effect a cutting operation with respect to the weft ends except by an intentional movement of the blade St to cutting position.

It is desirable that the cutter blade be located a substantial distance below the thread holder H, and while this distance may vary with different types of yarn, it will be desirable in any instance to have the cutter lowenough so that such threads as remain above it will belong enough to form a substantial mass of entangled weft ends able to serve as a thread anchorage. The cutter and the means for operating it are locatedw-ithin the space subjected to subatmospheric pressures, and for this reason there is no' air leakage'into the pneumatic system because of the cutter. Whilethis is a featureaof practical consequence,

' I do not wish necessarily to be limited to a cutter which is located entirely within the. cylinder or passageway 25. Y

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple form of thread cutter mounted within the collector of a pneumatic thread. control system for weft replenishing looms so located that it cannot. normallycut either theweft ends or the weavers hand. It will be seen that this result is accomplished by having a guard, which may conveniently be formed as. a part of the casing [6, project rearwardly beyond the normal position of the cutting edge .40 maintained byspring 31. ;'Io this extent the webg3ll maybe considered a guard member and the blade 3l .a cutter member, these members being movable relatively to each-.otherat the willof the .weaver to expose. the cutter so that it can be. engaged by the weft ends. It will further be seen that the cutter is located below the thread holdera substantial distance. so that the uncut threads may serve as a thread anchorage. Also, the pneumatic action within the cylinder is such as to draw. the threads normally along a path at one side of the cutter but near enough to it so that a cutting operationcan be effected after the weft ends have been moved out through thepassage 25.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. -In a pneumatic threadcontrolsystem fpr the weft ends of reserve bobbin-s in a weft replenishing loom, a, hollow collector into which the Weft ends are drawn by subatmospheric pressures which exist normally within the collector, anormally closeddoor-on the collector which when ep aafi rd asses to t eint o o h q ete and through which the weft ends can be drawn manually, and, cutter means supported by the 2. In a pneumaticthread" control system for the weft ends of reserve bobbinsin a weftreplenishing loom, a hollow-collector into which the weft ends are drawn bysubatmospheric pressures existing within thecollector, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords access to the interior of the collector and through which the Weft ends can be drawn manually, and cutter means withinthe collector to cut the. weft ends after the latter have been drawncthrough the door.

3. In a pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in aweft replenishing loom, a hollow collector into which the weft ends are drawn by subatmospheric pressures existing within the collector, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords access to the interior of the collector and through which the weft ends can be drawn manually, cutter means movably mounted within the collector, guard means within the collector normally keeping the weft ends out of engagement with the cutter means, and manually operable means to move the cutter means into cutting position with respect to the weft ends when the latter are drawn through the door.

4. In a pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, a hollowcollector into which the weft ends are drawn by subatmospheric pressures existing within the collector, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords access to the interior of the collector and through which the weft ends can be drawn manually, a cutter member within the collector, a guard member for the cutter member within the collector, one of said members being movable relatively to the other and the guard member normally keeping the cutter member out of cutting relation with respect to the weft ends, and manually operable means to effect relative movement of said members to permit cutting relation between the cutter member and the weft ends when the latter are drawn through the door.

5. In a thread control system for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, a hollow collector for the weft ends, a cutter member within the collector, a guard member for the cutter member within the collector, one of said members being movable relatively to the other and said member being normally so related that the guard member keeps the weft ends out of cutting relation with respect to the cutter member, and means to effect relative movement of said members to enable the weft ends to engage the cutting member.

6. In a pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom, a hollow collector into which the weft ends are drawn by subatmospheric pressures existing within the collector, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords access to the interior of the collector and through which the weft ends can be drawn manually, cutter means within the collector normally in noncutting position relatively to the weft ends when the latter are drawn through the door, and

means mounted on the collector capable of mov- 7 7. In a thread control system for the weftends of reserve; bobbins in a weft replenishing loom,

a hollow; collector in which the weft ends hang by gravity, and cutter means within the collector at one side. of theweft ends against which the latter can be moved laterally for a cutting operation.

8. In a pneu matic thread control. system for i 9. In apneumatidthread control system for eljwe fee s pftr serv bobbins in w pleni shing loom, a hollow collector from the top of which the weft ends are drawn downwardly by pneumatic action, and cutter means within the collector below the top of the latter and at one side of the weft ends against which the latter can be moved by lateral motion for a cutting operation.

10. In a pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of a Weft replenishing loom, :a hollow thread collector in which subatmospheric pressures exist, a pneumatic thread holder on the upper part of the collector from which the weft ends are drawn downwardly into the collector by pneumatic action, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords manual access to the weft ends, and cutter means within the collector above the door against which the weft ends can be moved for a cutting operation when the lower ends of the weft ends are drawn out of the door.

11. A pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of a weft replenishing loom, a hollow thread collector in which subatmospherlc pressure exist, a pneumatic thread holder on the upper part of the collector from which the weft ends are drawn downwardly into the collector by pneumatic action, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords manual access to the weft ends at the thread holder, a cutter member within the collector above the door and below the thread holder and located intermediate the door and the weft ends, a guard member for the cutter member, said members normally so related as to keep the cutter member out of cutting relation with respect to the weft ends and the operators hand when inserted through the door for manipulation of the weft ends at the thread holder, and manually operable means to effect relative movement of the members to expose the cutter means for a cutting operation relativly to the weft ends when the latter are drawn through the door.

12. In a pneumatic thread control system for the weft ends of a weft replenishing loom, ahollow thread collector in which subatmospheric pressures exist, a pneumatic thread holder on the upper part of the collector from which the weft ends are drawn pneumatically into the collector, a normally closed door on the collector which when open affords manual access to the weft ends at the thread holder, a cutter member within the collector above the door located at one side of the weft ends, a guard member for the cutter member, said members normally so related as to keep the cutter member out of cutting relation with respect to the weft ends and the operator's hand when inserted through the door for manipulation of the weft ends at the thread holder, and menu- 

